Ice-creeper.



F. DUHRKOPF.

ICE GREEPER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 191sv 1,087,000. Patented Feb. 10, 914;

. COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.,WASH1NGT0N, D, K.-

FRANK DUHRKOPF, 0F COEUR DALENE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO C. E. COONRADT AND ONE-THIRD TO A. F. COONRADT, BOTH OF COEUR DALENE, IDAHO.

ICE-CREE PER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.-

Application filed April 14, 1913. Serial No. 761,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUHRKOPF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coeur dAlene, in the county of Kootenai and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lce Oreepers'; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ice creepers.

One object of the invention is to provide an ice creeper having a base or body formed of light flexible material which will adjust itself to high or low arched shoes and which is provided with an improved construction and arrangement of calks, the inner ends of which pass through the body of the device and engage the sole of the shoe thereby holding the creeper in place on the shoe sole.

Another object is to provide an ice creeper which will be simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, eflicient and reliable in operation and which is provided with attaching straps arranged in such man ner that the device may be applied to any size shoes.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe having my im proved ice creeper applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shoe; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the creepers; Fig. 4 is an inverted perspective view of the same; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the creepers taken on a line with two of the calks thereof.

My improved creeper comprises a base or body portion 1 which is preferably of substantially elliptical shape and formed of sole leather or similar material possessing lightness, toughness and flexibility. Arranged at suitable positions in the body 1 of the creeper are calks 2, one of which is preferably arranged in the center and near the front and rear ends of the body, while another is arranged near each side thereof midway between the front and rear ends of the body as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing.

The calks 2 comprise tapered or conical.

shaped pins 3 at the inner ends of which are formed circular flanges 4. On the lower sides of the flanges 4 at diametrically opposite points are formed short studs 5. On the upper ends of the calks are centrally disposed screw threaded shanks 6 which are adapted to be screwed through the body of the creeper and are of such length that the inner pointed ends of the shanks project a slight distance above the inner side of the body 1 whereby when the creeper is placed in position against the sole of the shoe, said pointed ends of the shanks will bite into the sole and thereby firmly hold the creeper against slipping on the sole of the shoe when fastened thereto. On the inner side of the body 1 0f the creepers near the front end and opening through the opposite side edges thereof are segmental recesses 7 in which are pivotally secured the rounded inner ends of front attaching straps 8, said inner ends of the front straps being pivotally secured to the body 1 by rivets 9 or other suitable fastenings which are inserted through the body 1 and inner ends of the straps and have their inner ends headed against burs 10 which are engaged with the ends of the straps as shown. One of the straps 8 is provided with a buckle 11 or other suitable connection with which the other strap is adjustably engaged for fastening the front end of the creeper around the sole portion of the shoe. By fastening the inner ends of the straps 8 in the segmental recesses 7 as shown and described it will be seen that these straps may be swung forwardly or rearwardly on their pivotal connection to permit the straps to be brought across the toe of the shoe at different positions as will be readily understood.

Formed in the inner side of the body 1 of the creeper near the rear end and opening through the side edges thereof are rectangular recesses 12 in which are secured the inner ends of rear attaching straps 13, said inner ends of these straps being fastened by rivets 1 1 which are similar to the rivets 9 previously described. One of the. straps 13 is provided with a buckle 15 to receive the end of the other strap whereby said straps may be adjustably connected around the in step of the shoe as shown. By providing the recesses 7 and 12 in the body of the creeper the inner ends of the straps have a flush connection therewith so that said inner ends of the straps do not form an obstruction between the inner side of the body of the creeper and the sole of the shoe.

By constructing the body of the creeper from sole leather or similar material said bod v will conform to the curvature or arch of the shoe sole when fastened to the same by the straps 13 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The body when constructed of leather or similar material will also be light in weight and exceptionally strong and durable and may be readily carried in the pocket when not in use. The attaching straps of the creeper provide an adjustable connection whereby the creeper may be secured in position on the soles of shoes of different sizes. hen properly fastened to the shoe sole the three forward calks insure a firm hold on all. flat surfaces while the rear call; which is beneath the forward portion of the arch of the shoe will prevent the foot slipping when the arch of the shoe is engaged wit-h a round surface such as logs, ladder rungs or the like.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation. I

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An ice creeper comprising a flexible body portion having in its inner side near the forward end thereof segmental recesses opening through the side edges of the body and near its rear end rectangular recesses opening through the opposite side edges of the body, front attaching straps having their inner ends pivotally secured in said segmental recesses whereby said ends are flush with the inner surface of the body and are adapted to be adjusted to permit the straps to be engaged with the toe of the shoe at different points, rear attaching straps having their inner ends secured in said rear recesses and flush with the inner surface of the body of the creeper whereby said rear straps may be engaged with the instep of the shoe and antislipping calks secured in said body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK DUHRKOPF.

v i itnesses T. J. MULLANE, H. E. Kaisnamrnn.

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

